DeMarco Murray key to improving Cowboys

Rookie running back DeMarco Murray made a Jeremy Lin-like splash on the NFL last year when he replaced starter Felix Jones during the Cowboys’ Week 7 game versus the St. Louis Rams. Murray came off the bench and rushed for a Cowboys’ record 253 yards and was the catalyst to the Cowboys going undefeated in the month of November.

Starting from that Week 7 game, the Cowboys were 5-0 whenever Murray ran the ball 20 times or more. Unfortunately for Cowboys’ fans, head coach Jason Garrett was not as inclined to make sure Murray touched the ball that many times preferring to rely on his star quarterback Tony Romo to win games for him.

And how did that work out? In the eleven games where Murray didn’t eclipse 20 carries, the Cowboys were 3-8. Romo was only able to pull out three wins without the solid running Murray provided.

Despite some of the more questionable moves owner Jerry Jones has made during his time running the Cowboys, even he recognized the importance of improving the running game. That is why he took the offensive play-calling duties out of Coach Garrett’s hands and hired Bill Callahan as offensive coordinator.

Callahan has put together some solid running offenses in the past both with the Oakland Raiders and the New York Jets. While he didn’t do a very good job developing quarterback Mark Sanchez during his time in New York, he consistently produced top ten offenses in Oakland when he had veteran quarterback Rich Gannon as a starter.

Which bodes well for Dallas next season. Despite his lack of success in the win column, Romo had a great season passing the ball. Romo was a lot more effective though when he didn’t have to carry the offense by himself which is why Murray will be so important for the Cowboys this season. Murray will be expected to provide the balance that the Cowboys’ offense will need to be successful.

The Cowboys will also need Murray to give them more production in the red zone area.  Jones was not a good short-yardage runner but at 6’0” and 227 pounds, Murray is more equipped for gaining tough yards on that end of the field. The Cowboys only produced five rushing touchdowns all season and two of those were by Murray.

Not that he is expected to put up the kind of production that Cowboys’ fans have longed for since Emmitt Smith hung up his cleats but Murray should easily eclipse five rushing touchdowns by himself if he can stay healthy. A 1,000-yard rushing season should also be an easily attainable goal.

But that is only if Murray is willing to put the work in. He had all the excuses in the world not to succeed last year with the lockout-shortened offseason, Garrett’s questionable play-calling and the fact that he was a fourth-round draft pick trying to learn the ropes but Murray was still able to produce. This year he will be expected to produce from day one. 

Roosevelt Hall is an NFL Blogger for The Sport Mentalist and also writes for both The Penalty Flag and Outside The Redzone. He can be contacted at RHall_TPFB@Yahoo.com. Follow him on Twitter @sportmentalist and add him on Facebook Roosevelt Hall Thesportmentalist.